Mate

Ten

I sat in the chair in front of Julian, who was leaning back against his desk in front of me. He was staring intently at me, waiting for the explanation I refused to give him.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Aspen," he spoke softly. I swallowed and looked out of the window.

"I'm not even supposed to use my magic, since that vampire knows about me," I murmured. He listened.

"I was in the woods to connect with nature, considering I hadn't used my abilities since the car wreck. It really sucked when you broke my jaw, too-" he flinched "-Not only could I not heal myself, but I refused to let my grandma heal me because I had been seen at a human hospital..."

"Aspen. That's not the explanation I wanted and you know it." He was tense and I knew he didn't want to talk about the accident.

I sighed and slumped in my seat. Of course.

"When I was two, my parents died. How? I didn't know. They went to work one day and never came back. I don't remember them."

"Aspen-"

I held a hand up to silence him.

"I grew up with my grandma Marge. I'd always loved reading. Anything, really. But Harry Potter was by far my favorite. Not to mention, Daniel Radcliffe is hot." I ducked my head, smirking, when Julian growled. Then I continued.

"I started voiceover acting in fifth grade, which was amazing. Did a few Anime dubs and simple stuff like that. It was fun and I made good money for a ten year old." I chuckled. "By seventh grade I had to quit because of 'family issues'.

"The reality to that is: I became a witch. I was sick for weeks, getting used to the new power I would possess. It wasn't fun. But, after the illness passed, all I had to do was learn a simple spell so I'd have accepted being a sorcerer." I smiled.

"My first spell was an alchemy spell, actually. Alchemy is a very difficult thing to commit, if you didn't know. Most sorcerers who tried had died in the process." I lowered my voice a bit. "But I didn't... Of course, elders aren't allowed to help new witches, so Gran gave me a book of magics and left me alone to figure it out. If she'd known what spell I'd choose, she probably would have forbidden me to perform it.

"I hadn't known why at the time, but I've been taught to read, speak, and write fluently in Greek since I was little.

"Gran said I was very powerful. She said I was going to bring respect to witches and warlocks across the globe. There are very few of us now, though. There isn't much to save."

Sadness overtook me and I slumped.

"Aspen," Julian spoke. He sounded strained, like he was trying to keep himself in check. I didn't look at him. "Have you ever hurt anyone with your abilities?"

"Well, I wanted to hurt those vampires that tried to kidnap me, but I was so rudely interrupted thanks to someone's wolf," I glared at the ground. "And now an entire clan of vampires probably knows about me."

"Listen to me. I want-" I stood abruptly.

"I need to go home." I rubbed at my eyes and turned to leave, but a hand caught my elbow and I was spun around to face Julian again. I look up at him, surprised, and noticed he was looking at me with a grim expression.

"You should stay here," he stated, but it sounded more like an order than a suggestion. I tried to pull away, but he wasn't letting me go anytime soon, it seemed. Even though his grip wasn't tight, it was steely and unbreakable due to his inhuman strength.

"I can't stay here, Julian. Not only would I be putting myself in danger with a bunch of lycans roaming around-" apparently he didn't like how I'd worded that, because he let out a throaty sound. "-but I can't leave my grandma alone."

"Then she can stay here, too. My pack will protect you both. You are their luna." I shrunk a bit at the 'L' word. I knew the responsibilities of a luna, and I knew that I wasn't cut out for it. I'm not a family person. "I'll protect you, Aspen. You're my mate. It's my job to protect and love you."

I looked down. His job. Right.

"Let me go and I'll talk to my gran about it." When he didn't release me, I lifted my head to look up at him, only to find his lips on mine. I froze in shock as he slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.

I didn't know what to do; I'd never kissed anyone before. My right hand moved to his chest, my left arm still caught by the elbow in his hand. It felt so right; I almost kissed back.

...It's my job... To love you.

I pushed him away with strength I didn't know I possessed and he stumbled a few steps back, looking angry and hurt.

"Meet me tomorrow at the edge of the forest at noon. I'll have my answer then," I murmured before spinning on my heel and walking out of Julian's office, leaving him to process my words alone.

Walking home, I thought about his offer and shook my head. It just brought me back to the hurt of loving me, being my mate, is his 'job'. I don't understand why I feel this way about something so simple, so stupid, since I purposely avoided the guy for weeks and I don't know anything about him besides the facts that his name is Julian and he wears clothes.

I stepped into my house with a dejected sigh.

"Gran?" I called, taking my coat and beanie off and wandering to her room, where I found her gazing out the window. She did this generally when she was thinking about something that had once hurt her. The death of my grandpa and dad, my mother, who was like the daughter she never had.

She and I only had each other.

"Gran?" I asked softly, gaining her attention and a sad smile.

"How was your little field trip, darling?" She questioned, coming over to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her, burying my face in her shoulder and staying silent for a moment before pulling away.

"In the woods, I was attacked by werewolves," I began.

"Lycans, dear," she corrected and I continued.

"It was members from Julian's pack. He called them off before I could get hurt, but then made me tell him about me being a witch... I tried not to. So, naturally, I did. And now he wants me to stay with his pack. He wants to protect me. I told him I couldn't leave you and he said you could stay, too. You'd be protected, too. I said I'd get back to him on his offer tomorrow."

"I don't need protection, Aspen," Gran spoke. Her tone was rather low and throaty, like she wanted to cry but couldn't. "You, however, do. You're going to go with Julian. It'll be the best thing to keep you out of harms way."

"But, Gran-"

"I won't hear another word about it. You're going. I'll stay here."

I stared at her with teary eyes and whispered; "Why won't you come with me?"

"Because I've lived my life. You still have yours to live, not to mention an alpha werewolf mate to tend to."

"You're all I have left," I croaked. "You can't say that like you're prepared to die, Gran. Please."

"Oh, honey." She pulled me into a hug and rubbed my back soothingly, shushing me as my breathing became unsteady and I began to hiccup. "You don't understand yet, Aspen," she started quietly, as if speaking any louder would shatter me like a china glass making contact with concrete. "But life and death is just a cycle. One life alone, like mine, doesn't matter. It's when someone like you, someone who is meant for greatness and healing, has a full life yet to live out, that matters. I will be here when this all blows over, Aspen. They won't find me here if you're not here. They don't know about me.

"That being said," she pulled away to look me in the eyes, using her thumb to wipe away a tear that had escaped my watery eyes. "If they DO find me, remember that you're not alone. That I'll be with your grandad and your parents and we'll be waiting for you when your time comes."

I swallowed and nodded, hugging her and kissing her cheek before going to my room and trying not to cry myself to sleep, because I needed to be strong for Gran and for the rest of my kind, who I knew I was destined to free from hiding.